This simple act of expressing thanks and the consequences it has are fully affirmed in this Gospel, but Jesus takes it a step further and reminds us that the act of giving thanks can also restore faith. In this case, the restoration of faith goes even farther and has salvation as a consequence. It is a powerful reminder that personal faith is im portant not only in our relationship with God, but in our everyday lives.

I often remind you, my brothers and sisters, of the importance of saying thank you to God each and every day for the most important things in our lives that we often take for granted. In many ways, it places us in a kinship with the leper that came back and like the leper it reminds us that true salvation is the ultimate gift from Christ Himself.

So whether we say thank you as often as we can to those who do good for us or we pray it to God each day, it is simply what Jesus asks us to do. To all of you my good friends who supported and sustained me through sixteen years of ministering at this parish...I thank you!